Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Galapagos Islands?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Galapagos Islands or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Galapagos Islands or Puerto Madryn, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Galapagos Islands or Puerto Madryn?
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a small archipelago of islands belonging to Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos archipelago is world-renowned for its unique and fearless wildlife, much of which was inspiration for Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. Thanks to a lack of natural predators, friendly wildlife such as sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises let visitors get up close. This archipelago of about 19 islands and many smaller islets found over 620 miles off Ecuador's coast in the Pacific Ocean is a double World Heritage site, where both land and sea are protected. Each island boasts its own unique landscape, ranging from black, volcanic rocks to white sand beaches and gemstone-blue waters. There is no bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands but the busiest months for tourism tend to be June, July and August, as well as mid-December to mid-January. This is when prices are at their highest.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Ecuador, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Ecuador, The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.
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Galapagos Islands Prices
Ecuador PricesPuerto Madryn Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGalapagos Islands $160Puerto Madryn $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Galapagos Islands is $160, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $61. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Galapagos Islands and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGalapagos Islands $65Puerto Madryn $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGalapagos Islands $130Puerto Madryn $82
Compare Hotels in Galapagos Islands and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Galapagos Islands or Puerto Madryn? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Galapagos Islands $54Puerto Madryn $2.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands
Also for Galapagos Islands, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $56
- Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $123
- Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $123
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $216
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $138
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Galapagos Islands or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and Galapagos Islands change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayGalapagos Islands $55Puerto Madryn $7.60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Galapagos Islands $35Puerto Madryn $45
Tours and Activities in Galapagos Islands
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galapagos Islands.
- Giant Turtle Watching and Lava Tunnels Tour: $39
- Santa Cruz Bay Tour: Half-Day Tour with 5 Sights: $48
- Bay Tour in Santa Cruz - Galapagos Islands: $60
- Half Day Bay Tour in Santa Cruz Island: $62
- Isabela Island Tour in Galapagos with Kayak : $64
- Hiking Tour to Sierra Negra Volcano: $67
- Private BiciTour Giant Tortoises and Lava Tunnel in Galapagos: $90
- Half-Day Hiking Tour to Sulfur Fumaroles on Isabela Island: $95
- Trekking experience at Sierra Negra Volcano: $100
- The Galapagos Giant Tortoise Experience + Los Gemelos | Shared: $105
- Tintoreras Islet Tour from Isabela - Hiking & Snorkeling : $108
- Santa Cruz Highland Tour: Giant Tortoises, Lava Tunnel & Gemelos: $158
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 3 hour 4x4 tour around Puerto Madryn: $110
- Cruise Shore Exc. Ea San Lorenzo (Penguins) Lunch Included: $159
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $159
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Box Lunch Included: $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $95
- Cruise Shore Excursion Pta Tombo (penguins): $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - From Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $120
- Cruise Shore Punta Loma and city overview: $83
- Day trip in an all-terrain vehicle: 4x4 adventure + lunch at a Patagonian ranch: $160
- Dolphin Watching Adventure: $105
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $60
- Exclusive Full Day Tour Penguin Colony in Punta Tombo from Madryn: $200
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGalapagos Islands $15Puerto Madryn $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Galapagos Islands and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Galapagos Islands is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Galapagos Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Galapagos Islands than you might in Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Galapagos Islands Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.